Transformed through Courage: Esther
Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying, “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.” When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. ~ Esther 4:10-17
On the day after the inauguration in 2017, women from all over the country marched to Washington and in other big cities to call attention to the many issues that affect women. In the height of the #MeToo movement, women felt empowered to take a stand as to how they were treated in the workplace and through public policy.
In churches where women gathered to prepare to march, many prepared signs that said, "For such a time as this."
Esther may seem like an unlikely candidate for a figurehead for the #MeToo movement. She was a queen, and as such surely had lots of power and money and status...
Except she was Jewish. And a woman. And a pawn in the game of power-hungry men.
Sometimes it is the very thing that seems unlikely that is the thing that makes us ready when we are called.
Sometimes we find out that the thing we were created for is ready.
The time has come.
Our gift, our talents, our courage, meets the needs of others.
Courage may not always come when we expect it. Sometimes it comes simply when the time is right.
And we are the right person for the time.
Prayer: Help me to see when my time has come, Lord. Amen
On the day after the inauguration in 2017, women from all over the country marched to Washington and in other big cities to call attention to the many issues that affect women. In the height of the #MeToo movement, women felt empowered to take a stand as to how they were treated in the workplace and through public policy.
In churches where women gathered to prepare to march, many prepared signs that said, "For such a time as this."
Esther may seem like an unlikely candidate for a figurehead for the #MeToo movement. She was a queen, and as such surely had lots of power and money and status...
Except she was Jewish. And a woman. And a pawn in the game of power-hungry men.
Sometimes it is the very thing that seems unlikely that is the thing that makes us ready when we are called.
Sometimes we find out that the thing we were created for is ready.
The time has come.
Our gift, our talents, our courage, meets the needs of others.
Courage may not always come when we expect it. Sometimes it comes simply when the time is right.
And we are the right person for the time.
Prayer: Help me to see when my time has come, Lord. Amen